Air injector for internal combustion engines



A. J. LOEBS 2,096,332

AIR INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 19, 1937.

Oct.'19, 1937. A. J. LOEBS AIR INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1954 1, 1 1 wig u III/ll Patented Oct. 19, 1937 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUS- TION ENGINES Albert J; Loebsl, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application February 5, 1934, Serial No.709,849

, V 7 Claims.

This invention relates to means for supplying air to the intake manifold of an'internal combus to the manifold notwithstanding that some trouble in the air-controlling devices should develop,a'nd seeks alsoto provide means whereby the supply of air may be manually controlled in theevent that the engine starts slowly or with difiiculty. The invention also seeks to provide a device forthe stated purpose which will be 15 compact and free of complicated arrangements '36 Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the 7 parts in a slightly .different position from the positionshown in Figure2.

Figure 4 isa detailsection showing the parts in idling position. f Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 44 of- Figure 2;

In the drawings, the numeral l designates an engine blockand the numeral 2 designates a carbureter mounted thereon. whichmay be of any approved construction. The intake manifold is indicated at 3 and a portion of the exhaust manifold is indicated conventionally at 4.; y In carrying out the present invention, a bracket 5 is secured upon the engine block in any 45 convenient position close to thecarbureter. The

bracket, as shown most clearly in Figure 4, willproject laterally from the side of the engine block and upon the projecting end of the bracketis, rigidly secured a cylinder 6. Extending 50 laterally from the cylinder, preferably midway the ends thereof, is a nozzle. or pipe I to the outer end of which is secured a tapered pipe or elbow 8 from which a tube 9v leads into the intake manifold, as will be understood upon reference to Figure 1. A cut-off turning plug valve this boss I0 is mounted in the coupling pipe 1 adjacent the carbureter, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and between said valve and the elbow or nozzle 8 radially alined openings H are formed in the sides of the pipe, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, and in said openings are mounted plugs [2. Should any trouble develop in the mechanism, the cut-off valve Ill may be turned to closed position, and open-ended tubes may be connected to the plugs l2 or substituted for the plugs within the openings H so that the suction through the tube 9 will not be cut off but will be available to operate a windshield wiper or a vacuum gas tank or other device. 7 p

As shown in Figure 1, the cylinder 6 is secured upon the engine block in such position that it extends longitudinally of the block and preferably:

parallel therewith. Within the cylinder, between the branch or coupling pipe I and the rear end of the cylinder, is a partition [3 having a central opening l4 therethrough and bearing against the front side of said partition is an expansion spring I 5 which bears at itsforward end against the -rear end of the main plunger l6 which is'slidably mounted in the forward end of the cylinder with 5 a close running fit, being provided with annular grooves I! for lubricating purposes. The plunger I6 is hollow in its forward portion and houses an expansion spring l8, the tension of'which is regulated by an adjusting screw l9 threaded through a cap 20 which closes the forward end of the cylinder and is equipped with a vent opening 2| to permit the escape of any air which may be: trapped between the cap and the plunger. A

locking nut 22 mounted on the adjusting screw and turned home against the cap serves to retain the screw in its set position. The plunger is provided with a boss 23 at its rear end and is centrally bored and internally threaded to receive the threaded stem or shank 24 of a valve 25. The valve 25 is a disk disposed at the rear side of the partition 13 and having a diameter somewhat greater than the opening l4 through the partition so that in its forward position, shown in Figure 2, the valve will cut off flow through said opening. The valve is formed integral with the threaded stem or shank 24 and an intermediate enlarged stem 26 which presents a shoulder to the boss 23, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, whereby the turning of the valve into'the main plunger "will be limited. The valve is provided with a diametrical notch or groove 27, whereby it may be engaged by a screw driver or similar tool in assembling the parts. The valve is assembled with the plunger after the plunger has partly housed within the plunger 28, as clearly.

been inserted in the forward end of the cylinder to bear against the previously inserted spring I5. The valve stem is then inserted through the rear end of the cylinder and through the opening I4 to engage the boss 23 of the plunger and rotation of the Valve will then cause it to turn home agains the boss.

A secondary plunger 28 is slidably mounted in the rear end portion of the cylinder and this plunger is hollow and provided with an annular groove 29 for lubrication. An expansion spring 30 is housed within the plunger 28 and tends constantly to hold the plunger in its rearmost position. A spring retainer or cage 3| is also disposed within the rear portion of the cylinder and is shown, this spring retainer or cage having an open front end and provided with an encircling flange 32 against which the forward end of the spring 30 bears. The cage has openings 33 formed in its sides and is also provided with a threaded central opening in its rear end to receive the front end of an operating stem or rod 34, as shown. The operating rod or stem 34 passes through the central smooth bore of an adjusting screw 35 which is fitted through a central opening in a cap 36 which closes the rear end of the cylinder and is provided with air inlet openings 31, as clearly shown. The adjusting screw 35 is held in its set position by a lock nut 38 and the forward end of the screw is tapered, as shown, so that it may fit easily within a central opening 39 in the rear end of the secondary plunger 28. At the rear end of the controlling rod or stem 34, a cotter pin or other suitable stop is fitted thereto, as indicated at 40, and mounted upon the stem between the rear end of the adjusting screw 35 and said stop is a block 4| to which is secured the front end of a Wire or other suitable element 42 which extends rearwardly to a position upon the dash or instrument board of the vehicle to which the invention is applied.

The caps 20 and 36 are threaded onto the respective ends of the cylinder and, to guard against accidental withdrawal of the caps, locking rings 43 are fitted around the caps and have their ends engaged in sockets provided therefor in the wall of the cylinder.

It is thought. the operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. When the engine is not running, the parts assume the position shown in Figure 2, the secondary plunger 28 being held to the end of the adjusting and cut-off screw 35 by the spring 3!! so that the inflow of air will be cut off, the valve 25 being seated over the opening I4. When the engine is idling, the main plunger I6 is drawn by suction toward the partition I3 and the boss 23 abuts the partition and closes the air passage I4 so that inflow of air is completely out off, although the valve is unseated. When the engine is running, suction will be created through, the tube 9 and the pipe I on the intake manifold and this suction will act upon both .plungers so that they will be drawn inwardly from the respective ends of the cylinder and the parts set in the position shown in Figure 3, the valve 25 being unseated and the secondary plunger 28 being out of engagement with the end of the closing and adjusting screw 35 so that air may pass through the openings 33 of the spring retainer or cage to pass around the valve and through the opening 24 and thence to the manifold. At the higher engine speeds, when the throttle is partly or fully opened,

Figure 2, while the plunger 28 will be returned the vacuum in the intake manifold and the tube 9 is reduced, and the plunger I6 is released so that it moves away from the partition I3 and the parts assume the positions shown in Figure 2.

The supply of air will, of course, be propor- 5 tionate to the speed of the engine and will dilute the mixture coming from the carbureter so that an unnecessarily rich mixture will be avoided. When the engine stops, the suction, of course,

-will cease and the spring 25 will act upon the 10 plunger I6 to return it to the position shown in to its normal position, shown in Figure 2, by the spring 30. Should it be found difficult to start the engine, as frequently happens in cold weather, 15 the mixture flowing through the carbureter may be maintained in its rich condition by the chauffeur pulling upon the element 42. This pull 7 will be transmitted through the stem 34 to the spring retainer or cage 3| and the cage will con- 20 sequently be drawn rearwardly so that the spring will be compressed and the increased tension of the spring will then cause the plunger 28 to seat upon the end of the screw 35 and cut off the inflow of air which tends to dilute the charge. When the pull upon the element 42 is released the spring retainer or cagewill resume its normal position against the partition I3. It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and compact mechanism whereby the flow of air to an 30 intake manifold will be automatically regulated according to the speed of the engine, and may be mechanically shut off when desired.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In mechanism for the stated purpose, a cyl- 35 inder having a partition therein, said partition being provided with a central opening therethrough, a pipe leading from the cylinder at one side of the partition to be connected to the intake manifold of an engine, a Valve having a stem 40 extending through'the opening in the partition, the valve being adapted to cover said opening, a plunger carrying said valve and slidably mounted in the cylinder, yieldable means holding the plunger normally from the partition andseating 45 the valve, a plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder at the opposite side of the partition and having a central opening, a closure for the end of the cylinder having air inlet openings therethrough, yieldable means holding the secondmentioned plunger toward the end of the cylinder, and a stop element mounted in theclosure for the cylinder and adapted to engage the central opening in the second-mentioned plunger whereby the inflow of air will be cut off 7 2. Mechanism for the stated purpose comprising a cylinder having a partition therein, said partition being provided with a central opening therethrough, a pipe leading from the cylinder in advance of said partition and adapted to be connected withthe intake manifold of an engine, a valve disposed at the rear of the partition and adapted to close the opening therein, said Valve having a stem extending forwardly through theopening in the partition, a plunger secured upon the valve stem, yieldable means holding the plunger in a forward position and seating the valve, a second plunger at the rear of the partition having a central opening, a bored adjusting screw mounted in the end of the cylinder and adapted to engage the opening in the second-mentioned plunger whereby to cut off the flow of air therethrough, the end of the cylin-. der being provided with air inlet openings, yieldable means for holding the'second-mentioned plunger normally against said stop screw, a controlling rod slidably mounted through said screw,

' and a cage carried by the front end of said rod and normally bearing against the partition around the valve, said cage acting on the means for yieldably holding the plunger rearward.

3. In mechanism for the stated purpose, a cylinder having a partition therein, said partition being provided with a central opening therethrough, a valve arranged to close said opening, a plunger carrying the valve, means yieldably holding the plunger in its forward position and the valve seated, the plunger being adapted'to I be responsive to suction of an engine whereby to unseat the valve, a second plunger mounted in the rear portion of the cylinder, an expansion nal combustion engine, a casing forming a chamber, and having air inlet and exhaust ports,

the exhaust port being adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve for controlling the passage of air through the inlet port, means for operating the valve in accordance with the reduction in pressure within the chamber, a second valve for controlling communication between the air inlet port and the atmosphere, andmeans for operating said second mentioned valve in accordance with the reduction in pressure within the chamber upon the opening of said first mentioned valve.

5. In an auxiliary air regulator for an internal combustion engine, a casing forming a chamber and having air inlet and exhaust ports, the exhaust port being adapted to be connected to the intakemanifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve for controlling the passage of air through the inlet port, means for operating the Valve in accordance with the reduction in pressure within the chamber, a second valve for controlling communication between the air inlet port and the atmosphere, means for operating said second mentioned valve in accordance with the reduction in pressure within the chamber upon the opening of said first mentioned valve, and means for maintaining said second valve in a closed position.

6. In an auxiliary air regulator for an internal combustion engine, a casing having air inlet passages and an exhaust port adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and air inlet passages, a partition within the casing between the air inlet passages and the exhaust port and having an opening therethrough, a valve for controlling the passage of air through the opening in the partition, means for operating the valve in accordance with the reduction in pressure within the casing, a second valve for controlling the passage of air into the casing, and means for opening said second mentioned valve when said first mentioned Valve is open.

7. In an auxiliary air regulator for an internal combustion engine, a casing having air inlet passages and an exhaust port adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and air inlet passages, a partition within the casing between the air inlet passages and the exhaust port and having an opening therethrough, a valve for controlling the passage of air through the opening in the partition, means for operating the valve in accordance with the reduction in pressure within the casing, a second valve for controlling the passage of air into the casing, means for opening said second mentioned valve when said first mentioned valve is open, and additional means for maintaining said second mentioned valve closed.

ALBERT J. LOEBSL 

